: ball

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My wavy red hair was pinned up, with a few loose strands framing my heart-shaped face. Pale skin, dusted with tiny freckles, glowed softly under the warm bathroom light.

The off-shoulder gown I wore was a deep, rich green that mirrored the colour of my eyes. Intricate vine embroidery adorned the bodice, which hugged my figure before flaring into a full, flowing skirt that brushed the floor like a forest breeze.

"You look breathtaking," Tasha complimented the moment I stepped into view at the top of the staircase. She looked up at me, smiling. My mum stood beside her, that same disapproval glowing bright in her blue eyes.

"You need to cut down on the calories," my mum commented, her eyes raking over me in judgement.

I completely ignored her, grabbed my sister's hand, and led her out. My mother, being the queen of drama and luxury, had rented a limo. It was long and black, sleek and shiny under the bright porch light. My heart thudded. I didn't realise it before, but I missed the luxury associated with being home. Being descendants and of the former Beta, we were wealthy, our wealth almost competing with that of the Alphas. 'Almost' being the keyword, though truthfully, that was stretching it. The Alpha is a billionaire, and his delinquent son is about to inherit both the wealth and the title. I scoffed.

I could feel it, the moment the limo entered the Alpha's territory. The aura was palpable, and the view, trees lined the driveway, tall and ancient, their branches forming a kind of natural archway as if even nature knew whose territory this was.

I had never been here, not even when Alpha Black had summoned me to his office. That had been at the pack house.

So I was amazed by the sheer luxury of the house mansion. My breath caught.

Calling it a mansion felt... disrespectful. This wasn't a house. It was a statement. A fortress disguised in modern architecture. All glass and stone, it stretched wide and tall, the lights spilling out like golden rivers across the perfectly landscaped lawn. I could see the guard wolves already, stationed by the marble steps, dressed in black and barely blinking. Pack members stretched out their invitations, all clad in beautiful ball gowns and suits.

I leaned forward slightly, as if getting closer to the tinted window would make the excess feel more real.

"Is that a waterfall... inside the wall?" Tasha asked, her amazement mirroring mine.

Yep. It was. An actual indoor waterfall, glittering behind the floor-to-ceiling glass like some high-end art installation. Of course, the Alpha had one of those. Why have modesty when you can have moving water cascading behind your wine cellar?

The limo slowed, purring to a stop in front of the driveway. The ground beneath the wheels shimmered, imported black stone, polished so finely it mirrored the stars.

I swallowed. Hard.

Okay... so maybe I underestimated just how rich and wealthy could be.

Everything about this place screamed legacy, power, perfection. No cracks. No weak points. Just dominance, beautifully manicured.

The chauffeur opened the door and we got out, my mother going straight to the entrance, head held high like she owned the place. We followed after her, trying not to gawk and embarrass my mother. The guards let us in without checking our invitation. We are, after all, family of the late Beta.

The grand ballroom looked like it had been pulled straight from a dream, or a royal fantasy sponsored by a limitless bank account.

Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling like frozen stars, casting fractured light across the polished marble floor. The walls were covered in silver-leaf paneling, with intricate carvings of wolves mid-howl, battles frozen in time, and ancient pack symbols etched into the gold trim. It was both beautiful and intimidating, a reminder that even in glamour, this place belonged to predators.

A string quartet played softly near the far end of the room, their instruments gleaming under the lights. The music was elegant and haunting, filling the space with the kind of quiet power that didn't need to announce itself.

Everywhere I looked, there were wolves dressed to the nines. Floor-length gowns shimmered like waterfalls. Suits were custom-tailored. Laughter echoed in the air, but it was refined and practiced. Nothing here was casual. Even the joy felt expensive.

And at the centre of it all was the Alpha's crest, a massive silver emblem embedded into the floor, right beneath the chandelier's glow. You couldn't walk into the room without stepping on it, which I doubted was an accident. It was a statement: you are always under his rule, even when you dance.

Tasha tugged at my arm, breathless. "This is insane," she whispered.

I nodded, eyes scanning the room. She was right.

This wasn't just a party. This was politics wrapped in velvet. War dressed in silk.

And I was back in it whether I liked it or not.

: Alpha

The ball was at full swing, everyone dancing and drinking, overjoyed by the crowning of a new alpha. I stood to the corner, just watching. My mother was somewhere in the crowd, flaunting her favourite daughter to everyone.

My eyes swept the crowd, searching for something to entertain me when I spotted her. Kira Martin. One of Cassian’s friends. She’d helped him make my life a living hell. I watched her, hatred and anger brewing in my chest as she laughed, throwing her head back. Happy little Kira. No one knew what a little bitch she was. I scoffed and looked away, my gaze landing on the Alpha, Alpha Black. As he took long, powerful strides towards the pulpit, his black suit tailored to perfection, hugging his frame elegantly, his black hair slicked back. He looked every bit of a powerful alpha.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” He called out, clinking his glass with his ring. The chatter died down, everyone turning to face him.

It was time.

I straightened, glancing around in search of him, Cassian. I was curious to see what he’d look like after four years.

“We are gathered here today to witness the swearing in of a new alpha and,” he made a dramatic pause, “I’ll be stepping down as CEO of Silverhowl Legacy Group and officially passing on the title to my only son, the rightful heir, Cassian.” Everyone clapped, seemingly excited. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“Also,” he continued, to the surprise of everyone. The crowd exchanged confused looks, caught off guard. What was he going to announce? What other motive could they possibly have? A chill went down my spine, alert. I could feel it, whatever he was about to say wouldn’t be good. I glanced around, in search of my sister, but she was nowhere to be found, probably hidden somewhere in the crowd. I glanced at Kira, checking her reaction, to see if she knew about the next announcement.

“We would be announcing a new Luna.”

The hall went silent for a moment. Then whispers. The crowd exchanged glances, whispering loudly. Kira looked shocked, texting aggressively on her phone. I guess she wasn’t as close to the Alpha family as she used to be.

A Luna ? When did he meet his mate? Or… were they going to pick a mate for him ? I swallowed at the thought of that. It was against the moon goddess’s will to pick a mate. It wasn’t uncommon in the werewolf world, but it was banned in our pack due to the events that transpired the last time. The pack had witnessed great calamity, and it had taken a huge sacrifice to resolve it. A sacrifice that left me fatherless. I clenched my fist, angered by the thought.

“Please welcome,” he spoke, drawing my attention. My breath caught the moment I spotted him, walking towards his father in long, purposeful strides. His suit was an onyx black, hugging his frame elegantly. His black, curly hair sat atop his head, cropped at the sides and long at the top. My hands itched to touch it.

“My son,” he got to his father, smiling warmly at him. That smile that used to make me angry and excited at the same time. “The new Alpha and CEO,” he turned to face the crowd, standing tall at 6’2, smiling coldly into the crowd. A stark contrast from what he gave his dad. He was always so cold to everyone except his family and close friends. But he had been exceptionally cruel to me. His gaze swept the crowd, searching.

My breathing increased. His eyes moved steadily, sweeping every face. He had a mission. I glanced at Kira and found her already watching me, hatred blazing in her blue eyes.

“Alpha Cassian”

Our eyes locked. His sharp hazel eyes pulled me in, making me unable to move. His eyes were narrow, his jaws chiseled like they were crafted by the moon goddess herself. He had a faint hint of beard framing his pink lips. He looked different, manly. He was no longer the boy from school that bullied me. He was now the Alpha and CEO of a multibillion company. He wore that same blank expression that haunted my dreams. His eyes narrowed even more at me than his lips curved upwards, a slow, sinister smile gracing his face.

I took a step back, completely caught off guard by the way my heart started to race and the one word my wolf howled in my head repeatedly. It was faint at first till the volume increased and it became deafening, drowning out every sound in the room.

MATE

Oh goddess, no.

: Luna

I broke the eye contact, searching the crowd for my sister again, but she wasn't in sight. I grabbed the skirts of my dress and turned around, trying to get to the door. I needed to leave. I needed to leave fast. Everyone stared, making way for me to move.

Right before I got to the door, I felt sparks shoot up from my wrist, making my knees weak. No. He spun me around, bringing me flush against his chest. His arm snaked around my waist. I looked up at him, my cheeks flushed.

"Let go of me," my voice was breathy. He smiled. Not that sweet smile a wolf gives its mate but the one a lion gives its prey. It was predatory.

“Natalia," his voice was deep, smooth as slick. It went straight to my core. "Your chin has healed."

It clicked. He was the one from yesterday, the wolf in the woods watching me like a creep.

"You're the creep."

His arm tightened around my waist. He glared at me, and I didn't back down, though my pulse stuttered under the weight of his hazel eyes. The atmosphere was tense, everyone watching with bated breath. He took his eyes off me, glancing above my head. It made me remember where we were and the people watching. Alpha Black cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"It seems my son has found his mate," he wore a proud smile, his eyes landing on Cassian's arm around my waist. I tried to pull out of his hold, but he resisted. "Son, come on and announce your new Luna."

New Luna ? No.

“Behave," Cassian whispered in my ear before leading me to the centre, where his father stood. My heart raced, my wolf howling in joy. No. I didn’t want to be the Luna, I didn't want to be tied back to this pack, to him.

Cassian cleared his throat. I looked into the crowd, once again searching for my sister. This time, I found her. She had a big smile on her face, pride glistening in her eyes. What's there to be proud of ? Being mated to a delinquent bully ?

"You all know her, Natalia Crown. The daughter of the late Beta, Nico Crown." He spoke, his voice carrying authority. I felt a small pang at the mention of my father. I wish he were here; he'd stop this. I glanced at my mother. She looked proud. My heart tightened. My mother looked proud of me for the first time because I was mated to the alpha. The same man that bullied me. "The moon goddess has made her choice, and I will honour it."

I wanted to scoff. He turned to me then reached for my hand. I pulled back, but he grabbed it anyway, bringing it up to his lips. He planted a small kiss, maintaining eye contact. A show. I felt butterflies in my stomach, much to my dismay.

He faced the crowd once more, smiling coldly. He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear as he spoke, “Smile."

It wasn't a request. I plastered on something close to a smile, though probably looked like a grimace. The crowd clapped politely, some individuals howling in approval. It all felt unreal, like I was watching my own nightmare.

Alpha Black stepped forward and raised his glass. "To Alpha Cassian and Luna Natalia. May their bond strengthen our pack and honour our past."

More claps, more smiles, more fakery.

Cassian turned to me again, his expression unreadable.

"You're shaking."

"I'm not," I lied.

"You always were a terrible liar," he murmured.

"I still hate you," I whispered back.

He smirked. "Good."

I could feel every eye in the room on us. Every whisper. Every fantasy forming in their heads about the reunion of Alpha and Beta bloodlines. About legacy. About power.

They didn't know the truth.

They didn't know I wanted to set this entire ballroom on fire, set him on fire.

"There's a lot we need to discuss," he said under his breath. "Don't make a scene."

I smiled sweetly and whispered back, " I’ll do what I like."

His grip tightened, challenging.

"Don't test me, Talia," he warned.

"Or ?"

Cassian's hazel eyes darkened, a flicker of something dangerous flashing across them. "Or I'll carry you out of this ballroom over my shoulder, Luna title or not," he said lowly, his voice smooth but coiled with threat. "And I won't care how many people are watching."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I narrowed my eyes. "You wouldn't."

His lips curled. "Wouldn't I?"

For a split second, we just stood there, glaring at each other. I hated him. I hated this. But my traitorous wolf purred, basking in his presence.

"We'll talk later," he muttered before turning to address the crowd again, smiling like he hadn't just threatened to publicly manhandle me. I took a step back, watching him do his thing.

I came back here with the intention of attending the ball and leaving immediately now I stood at the centre as Luna, forever tied to the pack.

I hated him more.